Summary

Texas is facing a dire teacher shortage, particularly in bilingual education, special education, and STEM, yet thousands of classroom-ready educational aides remain locked out of affordable pathways to certification. The Educational Aide Exemption (EAE) program was designed to change that. This new report from EdTrust in Texas examines how the EAE program works, why participation varies so widely across institutions, and what policy and practice changes are needed to unlock its full potential.

Through interviews with educational aides and program leaders at 15 Texas institutions and an analysis of public data, the report reveals that while many colleges view the EAE program as “life-changing” for aides, underutilization, administrative complexity, and unclear guidance continue to limit its reach. Strengthening this program could be a cornerstone strategy in diversifying and stabilizing Texas’s educator workforce.

Read the EdTrust Report

Introduction

The Educational Aide Exemption (EAE) program, established under Texas Education Code §54.363 and administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), offers tuition and fee exemptions for classroom aides pursuing teacher certification at Texas public institutions. These aides, roughly 86,000 statewide, are overwhelmingly diverse, community based, and already deeply connected to the students they serve.

Despite the promise of the EAE program, participation remains inconsistent. Of the 233 eligible institutions statewide, fewer than half opted in for the 2024-25 academic year. Limited awareness, administrative hurdles, and misalignment between policy and institutional practice have slowed program enrollment, even as Texas faces a record number of uncertified teachers in classrooms.

By elevating the EAE program, Texas can turn its largest untapped workforce, educational aides, into the next generation of well-prepared, certified educators.

Key Findings

1. Uneven participation and underutilized funds
   Only about 42% of institutions opted into the EAE program in 2024-25, with many citing unclear eligibility and complex verification rules. Of the $2.6 million allocated, a significant portion remains unspent each year, limiting program impact.
2. Community colleges lead engagement
   Community colleges account for over half of total EAE allocations, thanks to strong district partnerships and local pipeline alignment. These colleges often serve aides who are Pell Grant-eligible, female, and Latino — groups who are under-represented in traditional educator preparation routes.
3. Institutional barriers persist
   Even willing institutions face barriers such as siloed communication between financial aid and educator preparation programs, staffing limitations, and conflicting rules around student-teaching waivers.
4. Bright spots offer a blueprint for success
   Programs at the University of Houston, San Jacinto College, and Dallas College demonstrate how proactive outreach, dedicated staff, and cohort-based support models can make EAE work for both aides and institutions.

Why It Matters

Texas cannot solve its teacher shortage or diversify its educator workforce without investing in the people already serving its students every day. Educational aides are proven, community-anchored professionals who bring linguistic, cultural, and experiential assets to the classroom.

The EAE program is one of the few state mechanisms that directly reduces financial barriers for these aides; however, its impact remains constrained by inconsistent participation and low visibility. Strengthening EAE implementation through clearer guidance, streamlined processes, and coordinated outreach can help Texas:

• Expand and diversify its teacher pipeline
• Reduce reliance on uncertified teachers
• Build sustainable pathways that honor aides’ lived experiences and commitment to students

Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages